PEARL OF WISDOMS FROM THE STORY OF LUQMAAN AL-HAKIM (Part 01)
Author: Prof. Dr. ‘Abdurrazzaaq Ibn ‘Abdil-Muhsin Al-‘Abbaad
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
إن الحمد لله نحمده ونستعينه ونتوب إليه, ونعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا وسيئات أعمالنا, من يهده الله فلا مضلّ له, ومن يضلل فلا هادي له. وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له,
وأشهد أن محمدا عبده ورسوله صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين وسلم تسليما كثيرا. أما بعد:
Indeed, the advices that can be found inside the story of Luqmaan contains great wisdoms, noble guidances, plenty of blessings, and correct method in enjoining people to Allaah’s path (Ad-Da’wah Ilallaah), in educating children and in nurturing the generations of muslim. In the said story, there are explanation about successful means and useful ways to enjoin people to obey Allaah The Blesser, the High, and to teach people goodness.
Therefore, it is important to emphasize to every educator, of parents, and teachers, to take heed of those advices one by one, and to use them as the correct guidance and straight path in enjoining people and in teaching.
Moreover, the advices contain very wise techniques in order to charm people, to invite them to think, as well as motivation and warning (targhiib and tarhiib). It also contain a proper way to admonish others, and a proper way to be able to approach people to explain goodness to them and to enjoin them to follow Allaah’s religion, He of The Blesser and The High.
Enjoining people to goodness call for knowledge and deed which is the goal of it, at the same time,call for wisdom, useful means, and techniques that leave deep impression in order to be able to enter people’s hearts.
Allaah the Almighty, the High had bestowed wisdom on a slave of His, named Luqmaan (2), and plant it inside his heart. Hence, He made his words, advice, teaching, and guidance brimming with wisdom.
This fact demands us to be able to ponder, to comprehend, and to learn about these advices that Allaah mentioned inside His book, i.e., the noble Qur’an. Allaah the Exalted decreed,
{ وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا لُقْمَانَ الْحِكْمَةَ أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِلَّهِ وَمَنْ يَشْكُرْ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِ وَمَنْ كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ حَمِيدٌ (12) وَإِذْ قَالَ لُقْمَانُ لِابْنِهِ وَهُوَ يَعِظُهُ يَا بُنَيَّ لَا تُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّ الشِّرْكَ لَظُلْمٌ عَظِيمٌ (13) وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ وَهْنًا عَلَى وَهْنٍ وَفِصَالُهُ فِي عَامَيْنِ أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيْكَ إِلَيَّ الْمَصِيرُ (14) وَإِنْ جَاهَدَاكَ عَلَى أَنْ تُشْرِكَ بِي مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ فَلَا تُطِعْهُمَا وَصَاحِبْهُمَا فِي الدُّنْيَا مَعْرُوفًا وَاتَّبِعْ سَبِيلَ مَنْ أَنَابَ إِلَيَّ ثُمَّ إِلَيَّ مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَأُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ (15) يَا بُنَيَّ إِنَّهَا إِنْ تَكُ مِثْقَالَ حَبَّةٍ مِنْ خَرْدَلٍ فَتَكُنْ فِي صَخْرَةٍ أَوْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ أَوْ فِي الْأَرْضِ يَأْتِ بِهَا اللَّهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَطِيفٌ خَبِيرٌ (16) يَا بُنَيَّ أَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ وَأْمُرْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَانْهَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَاصْبِرْ عَلَى مَا أَصَابَكَ إِنَّ ذَلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ (17) وَلَا تُصَعِّرْ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَمْشِ فِي الْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُورٍ (18) وَاقْصِدْ فِي مَشْيِكَ وَاغْضُضْ مِنْ صَوْتِكَ إِنَّ أَنْكَرَ الْأَصْوَاتِ لَصَوْتُ الْحَمِيرِ (19) }
“We bestowed wisdom upon Luqman, (enjoining): “Give thanks to Allah.” Whosoever gives thanks to Allah, does so to his own good. And whoso disbelieves (let him know that) Allah is All-Sufficient, Immensely Praiseworthy. And call to mind when Luqman said to his son while exhorting him: “My son, do not associate others with Allah in His Divinity. Surely, associating others with Allah in His Divinity is a mighty wrong.” We enjoined upon man to be dutiful to his parents. His mother bore him in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning lasted two years. (We, therefore, enjoined upon him): “Give thanks to Me and to your parents. To Me is your ultimate return. But if they press you to associate others with Me in My Divinity, (to associate) those regarding whom you have no knowledge (that they are My associates), do not obey them. And yet treat them well in this world, and follow the way of him who turns to Me in devotion. Eventually it is to Me that all of you shall return, and I shall then tell you all that you did.” (Luqman said): “Son, Allah will bring forth everything even if it be as small as the grain of a mustard seed even though it be hidden inside a rock or (anywhere) in the heavens or earth. Allah is Most Subtle, All-Aware. Son, establish Prayer, enjoin all that is good and forbid all that is evil, and endure with patience whatever affliction befalls you. Surely these have been emphatically enjoined. Do not (contemptuously) turn your face away from people, nor tread haughtily upon earth. Allah does not love the arrogant and the vainglorious. Be moderate in your stride and lower your voice. Verily the most disgusting of all voices is the braying of the donkey.” (Luqmaan: 12-19)
Study regarding these blessed verses is through the mentioning of some wisdoms that can be inferred from it. I’ve counted it briefly, and its amount reaches 50 wisdoms. I dearly wish that Allaah gives us benefits from these wisdoms, and guide us so that we can gain most of the wisdoms from these benevolent and blissful advices.
First Lesson,
Indeed, wisdom is a gift, and a present from The Lord, which Allaah the Almighty and the Most High, bestow upon people that He wishes among His slaves. It is a lesson taken from His decree, Almighty and Most High be He:
{ وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا لُقْمَانَ الْحِكْمَةَ }
“We bestowed wisdom upon Luqman”,
Thus, wisdom is Allaah’s bounty, that He bestows upon people that He wishes from among His slaves. As such He decreed in another verse,
{ يُؤْتِي الْحِكْمَةَ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَمَنْ يُؤْتَ الْحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ أُوتِيَ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا }
“He grants wisdom to those whom He wills; and whoever is granted wisdom has indeed been granted much good. Yet none except people of understanding take heed.” (Al-Baqarah/The Cow: 269)
Whosoever wishes to be granted such guidance and to be given goodness, should ask Allaah for it. Indeed, goodness and virtue all belongs to Allaah, The Most Noble, The Almighty. He grants it to whomever He wishes. And Allaah posseses great virtue.
Goodness wont be obtained except through being truthful to Allaah, facing Him properly, obeying His commmand, praying for His guidance over His slaves, and return to Him, in order to seize it. Indeed, guidance and enlightement reside in His hand, and He has no partner whatsoever.
Second lesson
Indeed, a slave should walking through its causes in order to obtain wisdom. Whoever pay attention to the story of Luqmaan and his life, will find that he was a pious slave. He worshipped Allaah, obeyed Him, and has a good relation with his Lord.
It is mentioned in his biography, as recounted by Al-Haafidzh Ibnu Katsiir and other scholars [3], that he was a diligent worshipper, obedient to Allaah, and honest. He speak a little, think and reflect more. He took valuable lessons from council of goodness and he advised others to reap lessons from those councils. He often seek advices from the knowledgeable, and took lessons from them.
What’s most important is that the sacrifice of a slave in working on the beneficial causes to get closer to Allaah, The Blesser, The High, will bring goodness and luck, and will yield wisdom. Therefore, the Prophet -peace and prayer of Allaah be upon him- said,
( احْرِصْ عَلَى مَا يَنْفَعُكَ وَاسْتَعِنْ بِاللَّهِ. )
“Be keen on doing things that benefit you, and ask Allaah fo His aid.”[4]
The Prophet – peace and prayer of Allaah be upon him- also said,
( إِنَّمَا الْعِلْمُ بِالتَّعَلُّمِ، وَالْحِلْمُ بِالتَّحَلُّمِ، ومَنْ يَتَحَرَّ الْخَيْرَ يُعْطَهُ، وَمَنْ يَتَوَقَّ الشَّرَّ يُوْقَهُ.)
“Indeed, (to obtain) knowledge is by learning, and (to obtain) patience is by training. Whoever attempts to obtain goodness, it’ll be given to him. Whoever attempts to avoid evil, it will be distanced from him.” [5]
Hence, a slave should work on the causes that enable him to obtain wisdom, and it is not enough for him to only say, “O Allaah! Please give me Your wisdom!,” or, “O Allaah! Verily, I ask You of useful knowledge and pious deeds.”, without working on causes (that enable him to obtain it). Allaah the Almighty and High declared,
{ فَاعْبُدْهُ وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَيْهِ.}
“So worship Him, and left your matter in His hand,”
And He declared,
{ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ }
“You alone do we worship and You alone do we turn to for help.”
Third Lesson,
The importance of being grateful of Allaah’s favors, and its great impact on preserving the favors, nurturing, and growing it. Allaah the Almighty and Great decreed,
{ وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا لُقْمَانَ الْحِكْمَةَ أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِلَّهِ }
“We bestowed wisdom upon Luqman, (enjoining): “Give thanks to Allah.”
A favor, if the object is grateful for it, will remain, and if it is denied, it will dissappear. By this reason, some scholars labeled “gratitude” as Al-Haafidzh (The Guard) and Al-Jaalib (The Seeker/The Puller), since it can preserve the current favors and scout the lost favors. Allaah The Blesser and Exalted decreed,
{ وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِنْ شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ }
Also call to mind when your Lord proclaimed: “If you give thanks, I will certainly grant you more; but if you are ungrateful for My favours, My chastisement is terrible
In the verse above, Allaah declared, (أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِلَّهِ) “Give thanks to Allaah,” meaning that being thankful and grateful for His favors, His gifts, and His generosity upon you. Among Allaah’s generosity -Glorified and Exalted be He-, to His pious slave is by bestowing upon him wisdom and guidance to obtain useful knowledge and to perform pious deed. The verse also transpires that a slave whom Allaah bestows upon guidance to obtain knowledge, to perform good deed, and to do good, is obliged to always and forever be grateful to Allaah the Glorified and the Exalted. He is obliged to recognize Allaah’s favors, virtues, enlightement and guidance that He has bestowed upon him.
Fourth Lesson,
Indeed, being grateful of favors could be done by our heart, word, and deed. These three ways are unified in Allaah’s decree, (أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِلَّهِ) “Give thanks to Allaah,”
Whoever is gifted with wisdom, useful knowledge, and pious deed, should be thankful and grateful to Allaah by his heart, in which he recognizes the favors of Al-Mun’im (The Bestower of Favors), by his words, i.e., by praising, lauding, and being thankful to Him, and by his deed, i.e., by obeying His commands.
Allaah the Exalted decreed,
{ اعْمَلُوا آلَ دَاوُودَ شُكْرًا }
“”Work, O house of David, in thankfulness (to your Lord). “
Therefore, a slave should perform pious deeds, be keen on obeying Allaah and use His favors in Causes that align with His command, He of the Blesser and th Exalted.
Fifith Lesson,
Indeed, a slave’s gratitude or his thankfulness to Allaah will not benefit Him at all. Likewise, an ungratefulness of the disbelievers will never threaten or harm Him. As He had decreed,
{ أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِلَّهِ وَمَنْ يَشْكُرْ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِ وَمَنْ كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ حَمِيدٌ }
“Give thanks to Allah.” Whoso gives thanks to Allah, does so to his own good. And whoso disbelieves (let him know that) Allah is All-Sufficient, Immensely Praiseworthy. “ (Luqmaan:12)
Indeed, the thankfulness of the thankful can’t give any benefit to Allaah, the evil deed of the disbeliever will not harm Him, the obedience of the dutiful will never benefit Him, the sin of the sinner will not be able to threat Him. Also, take heed of Allaah’s decree in a hadith qudsy, narrated by Abu Dzar -may Allaah be pleased with him- in “Shahiih Muslim”[6]
( يَا عِبَادِى لَوْ أَنَّ أَوَّلَكُمْ وَآخِرَكُمْ وَإِنْسَكُمْ وَجِنَّكُمْ كَانُوا عَلَى أَتْقَى قَلْبِ رَجُلٍ وَاحِدٍ مِنْكُمْ مَا زَادَ ذَلِكَ فِى مُلْكِى شَيْئًا يَا عِبَادِى لَوْ أَنَّ أَوَّلَكُمْ وَآخِرَكُمْ وَإِنْسَكُمْ وَجِنَّكُمْ كَانُوا عَلَى أَفْجَرِ قَلْبِ رَجُلٍ وَاحِدٍ مَا نَقَصَ ذَلِكَ مِنْ مُلْكِى شَيْئًا.)
“O My Servants, if the first human being to the last one, human or jinn, all of them are fear of Allah as if those who fear the most among you, that matter will not add My mighty even by a little. If the first creation to the last one, human being and jinn, all of them are committed sin as bad as the worst person among you, that matter will not reduce My sovereignty by a little.”
Therefore, the obedience of people who obey Allaah the Glorified and Exalted will not benefot Him at tall, and the sin of the sinner will not harm Him.
Furthermore, Allaah the Glorified and Exalted said,
{ مَنِ اهْتَدَى فَإِنَّمَا يَهْتَدِي لِنَفْسِهِ وَمَنْ ضَلَّ فَإِنَّمَا يَضِلُّ عَلَيْهَا }
“He who follows the Right Way shall do so to his own advantage; and he who strays shall incur his own loss. No one shall bear another’s burden. And never do We punish any people until We send a Messenger (to make the Truth distinct from falsehood).” (Al-Israa’/The Night Journey:15)
Whereas Allaah the Almighty and The High, He is Al-Ghaniy (the Self-Sufficient) and Al-Hamiid (the Most Praiseworthy). Among indications that mention about this matter is His decree,
{ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَنْتُمُ الْفُقَرَاءُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ هُوَ الْغَنِيُّ الْحَمِيدُ (15) إِنْ يَشَأْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ وَيَأْتِ بِخَلْقٍ جَدِيدٍ (16) }
“O people, it is you who stand in need of Allah; as for Allah, He is Self-Sufficient, Immensely Praiseworthy. If He wishes, He can remove you and put in your place a new creation.” (Faathir/The Originator:15-16)
Sixth Lesson,
Indeed, a slave’s expression of gratitude towards Allaah’s favors will affect him positively as well as benefit him. (Allaah the Glorified and Exalted decreed,
{ وَمَنْ يَشْكُرْ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِ }
“Whosoever gives thanks to Allah, does so to his own good.” (Luqmaan:12)
If a slave is being grateful to Allaah, the gratitude will return to him, whether in this world or in the Hereafter. In this world, it will return in form of the preservation of the favors he obtained, and its lasting, as well as the granting of other favors, as we’ve explained previously. In the Hereafter, he will obtain rewards, and a good end.
Whenever a slave thanks Allaah, the gratitude wil return to him and he will be benefited with it. Among indications that support this notion is Allaah’s decree:
{ مَنِ اهْتَدَى فَإِنَّمَا يَهْتَدِي لِنَفْسِهِ وَمَنْ ضَلَّ فَإِنَّمَا يَضِلُّ عَلَيْهَا }
“He who follows the Right Way shall do so to his own advantage; and he who strays shall incur his own loss. ” (Al-Israa’/The Night Journey:15)
If the slave denies the favors by being ungrateful towards it, -we seek Allaah’s protection from such deed – it will negatively affect him; he will suffer from loss and regret in this world and in the Hereafter. Indeed, Allaah the Almighty and High is Self-Sufficient (need nothing) of his gratitude.
Seventh Lesson
We believe in the perfection of Allaah’s wealth, from all its sides and from the need of His slaves from all its sides.
{ وَمَنْ كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ حَمِيدٌ }
“And whoso disbelieves (let him know that) Allah is All-Sufficient, Immensely Praiseworthy.”
We believe that Allaah is the All-Sufficient. Al-Sufficient (Al-Ghaniy) is one of the beautiful names of Allaah (Al-Asmaa-ul-Husnaa). The name contains His trait, that He is the owner of all wealth and riches and Allaah The Almighty and High doesn’t need any of His slaves and all of His creations from all its sides. Whereas his slaves and all of His creations are in profound need of Him from all sides.
We believe that our Lord, the All-Sufficient resides on His throne, separated from His creations, as He informed us in His Holy Book:
{ الرَّحْمَنُ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ اسْتَوَى }
The Most Compassionate Lord is settled on the Throne (of the Universe). (Thaahaa:5)
{ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ }
and then ascended His Throne, (Al-A’raaf/The Height:54)
At the same time, we also believe that Allaah the Glorified and Exalted doesn’t need His throne, and all creations below it. All of those creations, i.e., the throne and everything below it are in need of Allaah.
Allaah the Almighty and High decreed,
{ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُمْسِكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ أَنْ تَزُولَا وَلَئِنْ زَالَتَا إِنْ أَمْسَكَهُمَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ إِنَّهُ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًا }
“Surely Allah holds the heavens and the earth, lest they should be displaced there, for if they were displaced none would be able to hold them after Him. Surely He is Most Forbearing, Most Forgiving.” (Faathir/The Originator:41)
Allaah is The One Who hold the throne, Who hold the heavens and the earth. All creations stands due to His power -Glorified and Exalted be He-. All deny that they are in need of Allaah, all the time, even for just a blink of an eye.
The Eighth Lesson
(In this story), there is a confirmation of the perfection of praises to Allaah the Glorified. To Him belong all praises, for His kindness in giving His favors, and for the greatness of His names and traits. Allaah the Almighty and High decreed,
{ وَمَنْ كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ حَمِيدٌ }
“And whoso disbelieves (let him know that) Allah is All-Sufficient, Immensely Praiseworthy.”
Al-Hamiid (the Most Praiseworthy) is one of the beautiful names of Allaah. It indicates the praises that are given to Allaah, the Glorified and Exalted. He is the owner of absolute and flawless praises, whenever, whatever.
He -Glorified be He- is praised for His names and traits. He is praised for His favors, boons, and gifts. He is Al-Hamiid (The Most Praiseworthy), the Almighty and the High,the Owner of All praises. Allaah th Exalted declared,
{ لَهُ الْحَمْدُ فِي الْأُولَى وَالْآخِرَةِ }
He is Allah; there is no god but He. His is the praise in this world and in the Hereafter. His is the command and to Him will all of you be returned. (Al-Qasas/The Stories:70)
He is the owner of all praises in the beginning and in the end. He is Allaah -the Blesser, the Most High- who has all praises, both the seen and unseen. All praises be to Allaah, all favors originates from Allaah. Whatever favors His slaves attain, it is from Allaah, and He is The One Who gives it.
Therefore, it is befitting that all praises only directed to Him, Al-Mun’im (The Bestower of Pleasures). Hence, the people in talbiyah said in their talbiyah,
( إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ لاَ شَرِيْكَ لَكَ )
“Indeed, all praises, favors, and authority is Yours, (and) You have no partner.”
Ninth Lesson
(In this verse, there is explanation about) the position of wisdom and its great benefit for whom Allaah the Blesser and the High bestows it upon, and Allaah grants him favor to obtain it. It is evidently seen in the context of this blessed verse, in which Allaah praised and lauded Luqman. Indeed, Allaah th Almighty and The Great has bestowed wisdom upon him.
It also serves as a motivation for a slave to learn about wisdom, its meaning, and it spurs him or her to be keen on obtaining it.
Among the meaning of wisdom according to the scholars are:
- Wisdom is useful knowledge, followed by pious deed.
- Wisdom is positioning everything or matter in its proper place/position.
- Wisdom is knowledge, comprehension, correctness (in attitude) and (having) a good view on things (good perception).
There are also other meanings that aren’t mentioned in this occasion.
The main point is that wisdom has a lofty rank. Thus, it is befitting for every slave to be earnest in his attempt to obtain it, and to use every way that is allowed in sharia which can lead to the coveted wisdom.
To be continued…,